Reclaiming Power: The Black Maternal Crisis

A documentary-dance film by Stephanie Baker & Nekeisha Wall

Aya Birth & Community Wellness is reclaiming the legacy and tradition of the historic black midwife. Listen to our founder, Tina Braimah, speak on the Black Maternal Crisis.

INTRODUCING

AYA BIRTH & COMMUNITY WELLNESS

LAUNCHING IN 2024

Aya is birthing justice right here in the Triangle

'Aya' is the Ghanaian Adinkra symbol of endurance, independence, perseverance and resourcefulness. As North Carolina’s first Black-owned birth and wellness center, we wanted the name of the business to embody that and signify the reclaiming of safe maternal and general healthcare for people of color.

Vision

We envision a new standard of care anchored in the tenants of

reproductive justice powered by the reclamation of community wisdom and traditions.

Mission

To create a culture of community-centered maternal and reproductive health care for people of color in North Carolina by building a Black-owned birth and wellness center in Durham, NC.

Services

Aya is proud to be offering the following services

  • Birth Center
  • Open Access Maternity Care
  • Family Building/Fertility Services
  • Well-Person Care
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Now Scheduling for our

Open Access Maternity Clinic

Prenatal, Postpartum and Newborn Care Now Available

Powered by Sankofa Birth & Women’s Care, Aya is now offering the Midwifery Model of Care for prenatal, postpartum, and newborn care to families in the Triangle; focusing on those who are uninsured, underinsured and undocumented.

Prenatal

  • Full prenatal care provided by midwives from first positive pregnancy test up to delivery
  • Birth at Duke Regional Hospital
  • Tuesdays & Thursdays from 9-5
  • One home visit at 3-4 days postpartum
  • Phone calls at one and two weeks postpartum
  • 6 Week Postpartum office visit

Postpartum

Newborn and Wellness

  • Newborn care provided by midwives up to 28 days of life
  • Pregnancy Confirmation
  • STI Testing/Treatments

Founder & Executive Director

Tina Braimah

(she/her)


Tina Braimah (she/her) is the owner and Executive Director of Aya Birth and Community Wellness, which has grown as an expansion of her home birth midwifery practice, Sankofa Birth and Women’s Care. She was the first Black Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM) attending home births in North Carolina and also the first Black Certified Professional Midwife (CPM) in the state. Tina has over 20 years of experience supporting women in a variety of settings. She received her Master of Science in Nursing with a concentration in Nurse Midwifery from East Carolina University in 2015. After graduation, she worked briefly as a labor and delivery nurse and then as a home birth midwife serving Fayetteville and surrounding areas, before starting her own practice in 2017. A true advocate and life-long student of the midwifery model of care, she also co-founded Mocha Midwifery Collective, an organization that strives to improve maternal health outcomes by training BIPOC individuals to serve as birth assistants in their respective communities.


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Community & Partnerships Manager

Amber Rodriguez

(she/her)


Amber Rodriguez draws on 14 years of experience of working with the military as a clinical and medical assistant, providing well-person care, pediatric check-ups, and other clinical operations for military members and their families. Her passion for the midwifery model of care came as a result of birthing her three children in the birth center setting. After 10 years as a doula, she knows the importance of educating and personally empowering birthing people to strive for the birth experience they desire. Amber formerly served as the Office Manager, Social Media Manager, and Birth Assistant at Sankofa Birth & Women’s Care; she has received her certification from the North American Registry of Midwives (NARM) as a Certified Professional Midwife (CPM). Amber is also an advocate for the equitable care of refugees and immigrants and brings her passion for all families forward into Aya.


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upcoming & PAST events

Mar. 25, 2023

Midwives All Call & Listening Session

via Zoom

Mar. 18 2023

LGBTQ Center Durham Queer Health Fair

@ Durham Central Park

Mar. 4 2023

[Closed] LGBTQIA+ Listening Session

Feb. 10 2023

Latinx Community Listening Session & Story Time

@ El Futuro

Nov. 11 2022

Community Listening Session @ Aya Headquarters

Oct. 26 2022

Community Listening Session @ Durham Main Library

Oct. 30 2022

Community Listening Session via Zoom

White Silk Fabric

More info

coming soon!

Visit this page for more information about volunteer opportunities, career postings, partnerships and more.


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